Despite the day's record-breaking heat, employees, leadership and trustees, families and friends stayed cool beneath the Bulfinch Tent as they applauded some of the hospital's most vital members — its volunteers — at the annual MGH Volunteer Recognition Day Award ceremony June 7.

"There are no words to describe what you do," said Patricia Rowell, director of the Volunteer Department and Interpreter Services, as she praised the more than 1,500 men and women ranging in age from 15 to 98 who volunteer at the hospital.

Special awards included the Jessie Harding Award for outstanding volunteers, which went to Jean Swaim and Dorothy Martin. The Trustees' Award for an employee's or a department's outstanding support of the MGH volunteer program was given to Judy Newell, RN, MSN, nurse manager of Gynecology/Oncology and Pediatrics.

Swaim and Martin, both members of the MGH Ladies Visiting Committee, were honored for their work creating and assembling language books to help nurses and other clinical staff communicate with non-English-speaking patients. The series of booklets, entitled Point to Talk, is available in 16 languages — from Creole to German to Spanish. The Volunteer Department has been receiving requests for copies from local, regional and national medical centers.

Newell was honored for her role in advocating for the volunteers and their programs. She also has served for 12 years as a mentor in the Volunteer Department's Career Exploration Program, which gives students from Boston high schools the opportunity to visit the MGH to learn about hospital careers.

"Judy has treated volunteers with respect and with importance," says Rowell. "She has been a teacher and a good listener as well as a good learner. She has shown us how to interact with patients and families and how to put the needs of others at the top of our list."

Helping Rowell present the awards were James J. Mongan, MD, president of the MGH, Michael Jellinek, MD, senior vice president for Administration, and Judy Friend, MGH trustee.

"The work that each of you does is incredibly important," said Mongan, "not just in terms of dollars and cents, but in terms of the extras you provide in compassion and charity. You are everywhere throughout the hospital, providing a helpful ear and hand to our patients. All of us greatly appreciate your many contributions."

Rowell, center, congratulates special award winners Swaim, left, and Newell on Volunteer Recognition Day June 7.